Kathleen S Burdorf

Kathleen S. Burdorf “Katie,” 81, of Washington, NJ passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024 at Hackettstown Medical Center with her loving family by her side. She fought a long, hard fight and stayed strong and brave with a will to live until the very end despite the many challenges she had faced.

Katie was born on January 22, 1943 in Newark, NJ to the late Louis K. Schwarz, Jr. and Katherine E. (Waldron) Schwarz. Katie was the middle sister between her two brothers, both of whom she adored throughout her life.

Katie was part owner and Principal at Wadley Donovan Gutshaw Consulting, LLC, a company she helped create and worked as a business location consultant for many years. She was an excellent writer and communicator, connecting people in positive ways, in both her professional and personal life. Katie had a big heart and a warm smile, and was genuinely interested in meeting new people. Growing up in the South Orange/Maplewood area, she also lived in Hoboken and Basking Ridge for many years until moving to Washington in 2004.

Katie was a fun-loving, spiritual person who was full of hopes and dreams. She was an artist, a poet and a photographer. Katie loved writing poetry - she wrote about everything and everyone; she has written hundreds of poems, sometimes inspired to write a poem about someone she just met and give it to them on the spot. Katie loved music and concerts and had an impressive collection of music. She inspired those around her to sing, dance and laugh. Katie loved to travel and took lots of pictures along the way. She enjoyed taking painting lessons in Laguna Beach, CA from a favorite artist friend, where she learned how to paint beach landscapes. Katie loved the beach and thrived being near the ocean. She was connected to the moon and the stars, sunsets, ocean waves and sea breezes. She spent a lot of time with family and friends at her home in Belmar, down at the Jersey Shore. She lived a full life of soulfulness and had incredible magnetism that she exuded onto others. Katie was a truly special person, as anyone who knew her will attest to and wildly agree. She was an avid sports fan, never missing a golf or tennis match, and cheered for her favorite teams, especially the Buffalo Bills. She'll be remembered as an energetic, inspirational, soulful person who loved life and all the people in her life. Katie was a friend to all, and had friends around the world. Mostly, she loved her family and spending time with them. She will be greatly missed.

Katie is survived by her six loving children; Deborah Dobie and husband Doug, Margaret Hughes and husband Frank, Kristine Ciampi and husband Steve, John Burdorf, Jr. and wife Melissa, Elizabeth Muffuletto and husband Michael, and Tara Ryan and husband Chris. She is also survived by 10 loving grandchildren, her devoted fiancé and longtime companion, Dennis J. Donovan, her brother Louis K. Schwarz, III and his wife Vicki, and sister-in-law Dorothy Schwarz. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Robert A. Schwarz.

Family and friends may pay their respects on Sunday, February 18, 2024 from 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Maguire Memorial Home, 124 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. A memorial service will immediately follow the visitation at 3:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated and may be made in Katie's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Maguire Memorial Home, 124 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Phone number is (908) 852-2420. To send an online condolence, please visit www.scalamemorialhome.com.